Container with plug type closure



July 2, 1963 J. A. FOSTER 3,095,995

CONTAINER WITH PLUG TYPE CLOSURE Filed Feb' 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L, w /MJ, 16:4 0% mw'rov-zmsyf July 2, 1963 J. A. FOSTER 3,095,995

CONTAINER WITH PLUG TYPE CLOSURE Filed. Feb. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (I I III/IIIIII/III/l no 20 v 5\ E 00 "27! I 95 1.252" 16 [I3 1 34 17 l9 \o-, 2,0 3|? 22 2 32. as

-t-ion to the specific form disclosed.

United States Patent 3,095,995 CONTAINER WITH PLUG TYPE CLGSURE John A. Foster, Rockford, IlL, assignor to .l'. L. Clark 'Manufacmriug'Cm, Rockford, 111., a corporation oi 'lllinois Filed Feb. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 87,356 S-Ciaims. (Cl. 220-50) This :invention relates to a container which is closed by a plug-like cover pressed into an internally flanged :opening, :usually oblong in shape, to provide an airtight closure. Such closures .are used frequently in packaging flaky materials such as parsley which are subject to deterioration by moisture resulting from the leakage of air into the container.

Qne object of this invention :is :to provide a container :of .the above character having an improved plug-type .closure which .is made of stiff resiliently yieldable material to ,ztacilitate opening ofv the container and which atfiords :an airtight iseal by .edgewise flexing and bending of the plug .as .it is'being pressed into the container opening.

A "further object is to provide a hinged plug type closure adapted when partially open to serve an pouring spout.

The invention also resides in a novel manner of hinging the plug on'the container and the manner of utilizing the properties of ;certain -plastic materials such as polyethylene to achieve the :hinging and airtight sealing.

Other objects andzadvantagesof the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed descripztionstaken in connection with :the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is -a perspective view of a container and vclosureembodying the ,present invention.

FIG. 2 is a-sectional yiew taken-substantially in the :plane of'line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of-the container and :closurewith the container shown in section and the f FIGJl.

FIG. ,9-is.,asimilar fragmentary vertical section of the-closure and container illustrating the sealing engagement vtherebetween.

l0 and llare .Jdiagrarnmatic views illustrating .the dimensional relationship of the closure and the container ,parts.

EFIG.'1Z is .an enlarged section taken along the lines 12-42 of-FIG. 2.

While a certain closure construct-ion embodying :the

present --invention has been shown in the drawings and willbezdescr-ihed in considerablerdetaih it should be'understood that there ,is no intention to limit the inven- On the contrary, .the ;-intention is .to :cover all modifications, alternative -.constnuctions, equivalents, and uses falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in theap- :pend'ed :claims.

.In the drawings, the invention is illustrated .as the zmovablerclosure 10 of aconventional container '11 usually made. of sheet metal .and I comprising ;a body 12 of generally rectangular cross-section and having a top wall 3,595,995 Patented July .2, 1963 ice 13 depressed below a head 15 which joins the top and side walls together. The top wall is a sheet metal stamping having therein an opening 16 usually of oblong shape defined by a narrow inturned flange 17 having parallel side portions 18 and rounded end portions 19.

The plug 10 to be pressed into and removed from the opening 15 is preferably molded as one integral piece and composed of relatively stifr resiliently yiel-dable plastic material such as polyethylene or other material of light nature, a suitable material being polyethylene sold by Du Pont under the trade name of Alathon17. The top of the plug is a generally flat platelil of a size and shape generally corresponding to but langer than the oblong opening 16 so that its marginal rim 21 overlaps the flange 17 and lies flat against the container top, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, when the plug is pressed fully into the top opening 16. Cooperating with the plate 20 to form the plug is .a depending skirt or narrow flange 22 molded integral with the bottom of the plate and defining an external peripheral wall conforming in size and shape butslightly larger than the metal flange 17.

Thus the skirt when pressed into the opening is bent or compressed inwardly at all points around its periphery.

In one of its aspects, the invention contemplates making the plug a captive closure, that is, secured permanently to the container top but nevertheless movable between closed position, FIGS. 1 and 2, and partially and fully open positions, shown in full and phantom in FIG. .3 by upward and downward swinging of the plug relative to the container top. More particularly, the plug is attached to the top Wall 13 forswinging about an ,axis 23 which is spaced inwardly from one end wall of the container and disposed adjacent but outwardly beyond the adjacent rounded end Wall 19 of the container opening 16. The axis 23 is defined by a two-part hinge 24- formed integral with the closure plug and adapted to guide the entry of the plug into the flange opening 16 whileallowing whatever bending andcompressing of the tions of the container top13. Preferably, the ears are made thinner intermediate their ends as indicated at 26 so as to facilitate bending and locate the hinge axis .23

in the desired position.

Outwardly beyond this axis, the ears, are fastened securely to the container top preferably by simply pressing depending lugs 27 on the cars into holes 28 punched through the metalof the top 13. Herein, the lugs are short cylinders somewhat tapered at their-ends 29 to guide their entry into the holes. The latter are preferably punched by a tapered tool point so as to leave converging side walls which terminate in edges 36 which are more or less jagged and thus bite into the plastic. as illustrated in FIG. 6 .to retain the lugs securely andhold the ears firmly against the container top. By making the lugs slightly larger indiameter than the upper ends or" the holes, the plastic .willbe compressed as the lugs are forced into the holes and assume the exact contour of the walls of {the holes. In this vway, anefiectiveairtight pressure seal is formed between the plasticand metal surfaces.

With thehinge thus formed, it will be;apppar :ent that bystretchingcr compressing the ears or edgewise twisting thereof as permitted by: the slightly flexible ;char acter of the polyethylene plastic, .theskirt ZZ of the closure plug may shift endwise far enough to permit proper 3 telescoping of the skirt and the flange 17 thus accommodating normal manufacturing inaccuracies in the flange and the location of the lugs 27. It is possible, therefore, to employ a swingable plug type closure which remains attached to the container top at all times in service use.

In another of its aspects, the invention contemplates a novel contouring of the outer peripheral wall of the skirt 22 in order to obtain a sealing pressure of proper magnitude at all points around the skirt periphery in spite of the hinged mounting of the plug. This is accomplished in the present instance by forming a bead 31 around the skirt intermediate the edges of the latter and having a width as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 substantially narrower than the metal flange 17. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the free length and width of the outer face 32 of the bead for the indicated size of the closure plug is somewhat greater, that is .019 and .013 of an inch, than the corresponding dimensions of the metal flange 17. As a result, the resiliency and the flexibility of the skirt in a lateral direction is utilized to develop pressure which is concentrated on and distributed over a narrow band-like area of the metal walls 18 and 19 and thus utilized to best advantage in producing the airtight seal.

It has been found that the sealing action is improved by providing greater interference between the skint and the flange 17 at the rounded ends of the skirt than at the sides of the plug, the end and side interferences being .019 and .013 of an inch respectively in this instance.

3 Thus, the slightly greater compression of the skirt around its rounded ends results in an increase of the pressure on the flange along the straight sides 18. As a result, any tendency of the plug as a whole to buckle along its longitudinal axis and reduce the sealing pressure or become displaced in the opening 16 is eflectually avoided.

Provision is made for interlocking the inner edge of the skirt 22 and the inner edge 34 of the flange 17 so as to hold the plug positively in the opening 16. This is accomplished by forming around the outer face of the skirt a shoulder 35 which is spaced below the underside of the covering plate 20 a distance substantially equal to the width of the metal flange 17. This shoulder is on a second bead 36 spaced below the bead 31 with its outer face substantially flush with the face 32 except at the free edge of the plug as indicated at 37. Here the bead 3 6 is relieved about .010 of an inch to facilitate lifting of the plug away from the container top and swinging the same upwardly to open the container.

As the plug is swung downwardly and pressed into the opening 16, the bead 36 is collapsed along with the bead 31 until the shoulder 35 passes the flange edge 34.

Thereupon, the bead is free to expand and snaps outwardly beneath the flange edge as illustnated in FIG. 12. The shoulder thus becomes eflective to hold the plug in the container opening.

At the lower edge of the skirt, the head is beveled around its outer edge as indicated at 38. The inner edge of this bevel is smaller than the rounded edge 38 at the top of the container opening 16 which edge, coacting with the bevel, guides the plug into proper centered position as it'starts to enter the opening.

To assist in lifting the plug to open the container, an arcuate flange 39 is formed around the free edge of the plug with the lip 40 of this flange projecting outwardly and spaced a short distance above the container top 13. By inserting the end of a spoon, knife, or othertool beneath the lip 40, the free edge of the plug may easily be pried upwardly and loosened in the opening so that it maybe swung upwardly to any desired degree of opening.

The opening 16 is fully uncovered when the plug 10 has been swung to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 3. A spoon may then be inserted into the opening for removing a measured quantity of the con- Short lugs 42 molded on the outer sides of the wings 41 project outwardly far enough to underlie the edge 34 of the metal flange 17 and engage the latter as the plug reaches the pouring position. The temporary stop thus provided is released in the further swinging of the plug, this being permitted by inward yielding of the wings to allow the lugs to pass upwardly across the flange 17. The wings yield in a similar way as the plug is swung downwardly from the fully open position and enter the opening 16.

I claim as my invention: a

l. The combination with a container top having an opening defined by a narrow inturned flange of, a molded plug of resilient plastic material providing an airtight closure for said opening and comprising a top plate larger than said opening and sized to cover the opening when lying against said top, means hinging said plate on said top to swing about an axis paralleling said top and disposed adjacent but spaced outwardly from one side of the opening, a peripheral wall depending from said plate and sized to telescope within said flange with a close press fit by lateral flexing of the skirt and compression of the plastic material thereof, said will a the lower edge of said flange when the plug is pressed into said opening whereby to hold the plug in said opening and said plate against said top, and an outwardly projecting bead narrower than said flange formed integral with and extending around the entire periphery of said wall intermediate the top and bottom thereof so as to be compressed into sealing engagement with a narrow band-like area of said flange when the plug is pressed into said opening.

' 2. The combination with a container top having an opening defined by a narrow inturned flange of, a molded plug of resilient plastic material providing an airtight closure for said opening and comprising a top plate a larger than said opening and sized to cover the'opening when lying against said top, means hinging said plate on said top to swing about an axisparalleling'said top saidplate and sized to telescope within said flange with and disposed adjacent but spaced outwardly from one side of the opening, and a peripheral wall depending from a close press fit by lateral flexing of the wall and com- -pression of the plastic material thereof, said wall being deeper than said flange and having a peripheral outwardly extending shoulder adapted to expand beneath the lower edge of said flange when the plug is pressed into said opening whereby to hold the plug in saidopening and said plate against said top, and the outer surface of said wall bulging outward intermediate the top and bottom thereof and providing between the Wall and said flange a band-like area of contact substantially narrower than the depth of the flange and extending around the entire periphery of said flange'so as to be compressed into sealing engagement with a band-like area of said flange when the plug is pressed into said opening.

paralleling said top and disposed adjacent but spaced outwardly from one side of the opening, a peripheral skirt depending from said plate and sized and shaped to telescope within said flange with a close press fit by lateral flexing of the skirt and compression of the plastic material against said sides and rounded ends, at least one side of said skirt being extended downwardly a substantial distance below said flange to form a wing lying alongside one side of said opening when said plug is swung upwardly to a partially open position, and a lug projecting outwardly a short distance from the lower end of said wing for engagement with the edge of said flange to limit the upward swinging of said plug to said partially open position, said wing bending laterally and inwardly to allow said lug to pass said flange as the plug is swung upwardly to a wider open position.

4. The combination of, a container top having an elongated opening defined by a narrow inturned flange, a molded plug of resilient plastic material providing an airtight closure for said opening and comprising a top plate larger than said opening and sized to cover the opening when lying against said top, means hinging said plate on said top to swing about an axis paralleling said top and disposed adjacent but spaced outwardly from one side of the opening, a peripheral skirt depending from said plate and sized and shaped to telescope within said flange with a close press fit by lateral flexing of the skirt and compression of the plastic material against the flange, at least one side or" said skirt being extended downwardly a substantial distance below said flange to form a wing lying alongside one side of said opening as said plug is swung upwardly to a partially open position, and a lug projecting outwardly a short distance from the lower end of said wing for engagement with the edge of said flange to limit the upward swinging of said plug to said partially open position, said wing bending laterally to allow said lug to pass said flange as the plug is swung upwardly to a wider open position.

5. The combination of, a container top having an oblong opening therein defined by a narrow inturned flange and having opposite parallel sides joined by arcuate ends, a molded plug of resilient plastic material providing an airtight closure for said opening and comprising a top plate larger than said opening and sized to cover the opening when lying against said top, mean hinging said plate on said top to swing about an axis paralleling said top and disposed adjacent but spaced outwardly from one side of the opening, and a peripheral wall depending from said plate and slightly larger than said opening and providing interferences around the entire periphery thereof so that the depending wall is compressed laterally when 5 pressed into said opening, said interferences along said arcuate ends on. said opening being a few thousandths of an inch greater than along said ptuallel sides whereby the inward flexing of such ends increases the outward pressure between said wall and such sides.

6. The combination of, a generally fiat container top composed of sheet metal and having an opening therein defined by a narrow inturned flange, a molded plug of resiliently yieldable plastic material providing an airtight closure for said opening and comprising l3. top plate, a peripheral wall depending from said plate and sized to telescope within said flange with a close press fit by compression of the plastic material against said flange, a flexible strap integral with and projecting from the edge of said plate and defining intermediate its ends a hinge for swinging of the plate about an axis paralleling said top and disposed adjacent but spaced outwardly (from one side of the Opening, and means for securing the outer end of said strap against said top comprising a hole in said top defined by a tubular flange depending from the underside of said top and having a circumferentially continuous internal side wall integral with the top, the lower end portion of said tubular flange having a predetermined cross-sectional shape and size, and a lug integral with and depending from the outer end of said strap and molded to substantially the same cross-sectional shape but larger in cross-sectional size than said lower end portions, said lug extending downwardly through and compressed within and against said internal wall to grip the latter with a tight press fit and form an airtight peripherally continuous seal, and said lug being longer than the depth of said tubular flange so as to expand beyond and become interlocked with the lower end thereof thereby efiectively resisting withdrawal of the lug from the flange.

7. The combination defined by claim 6 in which the upper end of the wall defining said hole is of rounded radial cross seotion and defines a continuous downwardly converging internal peripheral surface.

8. The combination defined by claim 6 in which the lower end of said hole flange is defined by a jagged edge biting into said lug above the lower end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,263,446 Sebell Nov. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 744,146 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1956 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A CONTAINER TOP HAVING AN OPENING DEFINED BY A NARROW INTURNED FLANGE OF, A MOLDED PLUG OF RESILIENT PLASTIC MATERIAL PROVIDING AN AIRTIGHT CLOSURE FOR SAID OPENING AND COMPRISING A TOP PLATE LARGE THAN SAID OPENING AND SIZED TO COVER THE OPENING WHEN LYING AGAINST SAID TOP, MEANS HINGING SAID PLATE ON SAID TOP TO SWING ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLELING SAID TOP AND DISPOSED ADJACENT BUT SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE OPENING, A PERIPHERAL WALL DEPENDING FROM SAID PLATE AND SIZED TO TELESCOPE WITHIN SAID FLANGE WITH A CLOSE PRESS FIT BY LATERAL FLEXING OF THE SKIRT AND COMPRESSION OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL THEREOF, SAID WALL BEING DEEPER THAN SAID FLANGE AND HAVING A PERIPHERAL OUTWARDLY EXTENDING SHOULDER ADAPTED TO EXPAND BENEATH THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID FLANGE WHEN THE PLUG IS PRESSED INTO SAID OPENING WHEREBY TO HOLD THE PLUG IN SAID OPENING AND SAID PLATE AGAINST SAID TOP, AND AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING BEAD NARROWER THAN SAID FLANGE FORMED INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING AROUND THE ENTIRE PERIPHERY OF SAID WALL INTERMEDIATE THE TOP AND BOTTOM THEREOF SO AS TO BE COMPRESSED INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH A NARROW BAND-LIKE AREA OF SAID FLANGE WHEN THE PLUG IS PRESSED INTO SAID OPENING. 